Apparatus and method for reducing propagation delay in a conductor

Abstract

An apparatus and method is provided that reduces the propagation delay in a conductor carrying an electrical signal from a first area of a circuit to a second area of the circuit. The conductor is fabricated to include a first conductor extending from the first area to the second area. The conductor also includes a second conductor extending substantially parallel and along the first conductor and electrically connected to the first conductor. A third and additional conductors may also be used which extend substantially parallel and along the first conductor and are electrically connected to the first conductor. The additional second conductor (and any additional conductors) reduces the capacitance of the conductor thereby reducing the propagation delay in the conductor (increasing the speed of the signal). The additional conductor(s) effectively “shield” the first conductor from some capacitance that the first conductor would normally “see” without the use of such additional conductors.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
   
   
       21 . A method of transmitting electrical signals along a first conductor disposed within an integrated circuit and having a length in excess of 10,000 microns, the integrated circuit including a second conductor proximate the first conductor and extending substantially parallel and along the first conductor, the method comprising:
 selectively transmitting a single electrical signal at a frequency greater than 200 mega-Hertz (MHz) on both of the first and second conductors; and   selectively transmitting independent electrical signals on the first and second conductors.   
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 closing a first switch selectively connecting a first end of the first conductor to a first end of the second conductor when selectively transmitting the single electrical signal on both of the first and second conductors; and   opening the first switch when selectively transmitting independent electrical signals on the first and second conductors.   
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising:
 closing a second switch selectively connecting a second end of the first conductor to a second end of the second conductor when selectively transmitting the single electrical signal on both of the first and second conductors; and   opening the second switch when selectively transmitting independent electrical signals on the first and second conductors.   
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 selectively transmitting the single electrical signal concurrently on a third conductor as well as on both of the first and second conductors, the third conductor proximate to the first and second conductors and extending substantially parallel and along the first and second conductors.   
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising:
 selectively transmitting the single electrical signal concurrently on a fourth conductor as well as on all of the first, second and third conductors, the fourth conductor proximate to the first, second and third conductors and extending substantially parallel and along the first, second and third conductors.   
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the first, second and third conductors are arranged vertically with respect to each other. 
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the first, second and third conductors are arranged horizontally with respect to each other. 
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the first, second and third conductors are arranged diagonally with respect to each other. 
   
   
       29 . A method of switching electrical signals within an integrated circuit, the method comprising:
 selectively switching a single electrical signal having a frequency greater than 200 mega-Hertz (MHz) onto both of first and second conductors each having a length greater than 10,000 microns and disposed proximate to and extending substantially parallel and along each other; and   selectively switching independent electrical signals onto the first and second conductors.   
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 29 , further comprising:
 closing both of a first switch selectively connecting a first end of the first conductor to a first end of the second conductor and a second switch selectively connecting a second end of the first conductor to a second end of the second conductor when selectively transmitting the single electrical signal on both of the first and second conductors.   
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 29 , further comprising:
 disconnecting at least one of the first end of the first conductor from the first end of the second conductor and the second end of the first conductor from the second end of the second conductor when transmitting the independent electrical signals on the first and second conductors.   
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 29 , further comprising:
 disconnecting both the first end of the first conductor from the first end of the second conductor and the second end of the first conductor from the second end of the second conductor when transmitting the independent electrical signals on the first and second conductors.   
   
   
       33 . An integrated circuit, comprising:
 a first conductor having a length in excess of 10,000 microns; and   a second conductor proximate the first conductor and extending substantially parallel and along the first conductor,   wherein a single electrical signal having a frequency greater than 200 mega-Hertz (MHz) is selectively transmitted on both of the first and second conductors and independent electrical signals are selectively transmitted on the first and second conductors.   
   
   
       34 . The integrated circuit of  claim 33 , further comprising:
 a first switch selectively connecting a first end of the first conductor to a first end of the second conductor when selectively transmitting the single electrical signal on both of the first and second conductors.   
   
   
       35 . The integrated circuit of  claim 34 , further comprising:
 a second switch selectively connecting a second end of the first conductor to a second end of the second conductor when selectively transmitting the single electrical signal on both of the first and second conductors.   
   
   
       36 . The integrated circuit of  claim 33 , further comprising:
 a third conductor selectively carrying the single electrical signal concurrently with both of the first and second conductors, the third conductor proximate to the first and second conductors and extending substantially parallel and along the first and second conductors.   
   
   
       37 . The integrated circuit of  claim 36 , further comprising:
 a fourth conductor selectively carrying the single electrical signal concurrently with the first, second and third conductors, the fourth conductor proximate to the first, second and third conductors and extending substantially parallel and along the first, second and third conductors.   
   
   
       38 . The integrated circuit of  claim 36 , wherein the first, second and third conductors are arranged vertically with respect to each other. 
   
   
       39 . The integrated circuit of  claim 36 , wherein the first, second and third conductors are arranged horizontally with respect to each other. 
   
   
       40 . The integrated circuit of  claim 36 , wherein the first, second and third conductors are arranged diagonally with respect to each other.